Seven minutes later Aidan Collins had a header cleared off the line by Colm Bargary after the defender had met a Mark McCulloch corner. The resulting corner led to another chance, with Murray making a good save after Stuart Malcolm had directed a Jim Crawford cross goalwards.

Murray was called into action again on 36 minutes when he blocked an effort from Shels right-back Alan Murphy with his feet.

Conversely, home 'keeper Tony O'Dowd, back after a spell out with a shoulder injury, was a spectator for most of the opening period. He needed to be alert in additional time, however, to cut out a centre from Stephen Grant.

Shels opened the second half brighter, with McCulloch and youngster Peter McGlynn combining well on the edge of the box only for the latter to skew a left-footed shot well wide of the target.

Ted O'Connor had O'Dowd scrambling across his goal after 57 minutes, but the Kilkenny striker's 30-yard effort bounced just wide of the left upright.

The Cats were growing in confidence at this point, with substitute defender James Dermody flashing a sweetly-struck shot just wide of the same upright.

Shels piled on the pressure in the closing minutes but the Kilkenny defence, which was well-marshalled by John MacNicholas, held firm.

City remain bottom of the table, but are now just two points behind south-east neighbours Wexford Youths.

Shelbourne's third defeat in three games leaves them six points off Limerick, with the Dubliners having played an extra game.